Tied

by KB Winters

  “Go on and kiss her, Uncle Cruz!” Maisie’s laughter brought a smile to both our faces.

  Smiles locked in place, we still stared at each other for another extended moment. The only thing I could think was, shit. Of all the things we’d talked about, our first—and only—kiss as a married couple was not one of them. But now the kiss was here and we were wholly unprepared.

  “Uh, guys?” Holden’s deep voice cut into my thoughts, and I sent him a grateful smile before leaning towards my now husband.

  “I think they expect my husband to lay one on me.” At my words, Cruz’s gaze lasered in on my red painted lips that Peaches had spent five minutes on, insisting it would leave Cruz transfixed. I couldn’t wait to tell her later, just how right she was. Then his gaze slid lower to my cleavage spilling over the top of the mermaid cut wedding dress, and he licked his lips. My breath hitched.

  “If you won’t kiss her, I will!”

  That voice belonged to Slayer, the long haired dude I freaked out on that first night at The Barn Door.

  Those words lit a fire under Cruz’s ass, and he glared into the crowd until he found him.

  “I can kiss my own damn wife, thank you very much.”

  Cruz’s growl vibrated my whole body when he pulled me until our bodies were so close I could feel his heart beating against my chest. His body was big and hard, such a stark contrast to my smaller, softer frame. Big strong hands cupped my waist and slowly slid up my body. His fingers brushed along my ribcage and the edges of my breasts, and his hands slid up until one pressed dead center in my back and the other cupped my neck.

  “Ready to be kissed like a proper wife?”

  Hell, yeah. “Depends on how a proper husband kisses his wife. I’ve never been married before.”

  His lips curled into an amused grin, but the dark glint in his eyes told me he meant business. Before I could prepare myself for the feel of his lush lips on mine, they were there, soft and firm. Insistent. Greedy.

  Cruz kissed like the devil, filling my entire body with a thick, heavy fire I couldn’t control even if I wanted to. He kissed me like he’d been waiting his whole life to put his lips on me, for his tongue to slide against mine in an erotic dance that we both, somehow, knew the choreography to without one minute of practice. That moan was like a fucking rocket exploding inside of my body, heating me up until my blood flowed through me like lava.

  The kiss was too intimate, too fucking erotic for a wedding. For a crowd full of well wishers whistling and clapping while we kissed like we were alone, because that’s the kind of kiss it was. One that required privacy, intimacy for the things that came after a kiss like this, things like stripping each other naked and kissing every inch of skin on display. Things like a good, hard sweaty fuck. That thought brought me up short, and I pulled back, staring at him with wide eyed wonder.

  “Wow.”

  One side of Cruz’s mouth kicked up in an irresistible grin that hit me right between the thighs. Okay and maybe a little in the vicinity of my chest, but I was ignoring that and focusing solely on the desire coursing through my veins.

  “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, babe.”

  He pulled me close, so close that I could feel not only his heartbeat, but the huge cock growing in his pants. Then he dipped me over his forearm and pressed his lips to mine once again, and I lost all sense of time and place.

  No man, no kiss had ever rendered me so powerless to my own desires. My arms tightened around his neck, and I pressed in closer, hungry to be as close to this man as I could, and still, it wasn’t close enough. Cruz pulled back, a satisfied grin on his handsome face.

  “Damn,” I said in a hushed tone.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  He clasped our hands together and lifted them in the air with a proud, wide smile, a move that was met with even louder cheers and whistles that I couldn’t understand.

  They all knew what this marriage was, and wasn’t, but everyone smiled as if they’re friend, their brother had found true love. We stopped long enough to take about thirty minutes’ worth of photos before Cruz took me by the hand once again.

  “Come on, wifey.”

  “Where are we going?”

  Instead of answering, Cruz tugged me back up the aisle so fast I could barely keep up. It felt as if we walked forever thanks to the sexy but incredibly high red stilettos Peaches had insisted I wear. At the bottom of the back porch stairs he turned to me and bent down, scooping me in his arms.

  “We’re going to have a moment alone.”

  Alone? Instantly my nipples hardened, and I knew we’d both made a huge mistake here. A giant miscalculation, because this wasn’t just a straightforward marriage to keep me safe from a crazy old mobster. Nope, it was a powder keg of lust and desire, threatening to blow up in our faces at any moment.

  “We are?”

  “Don’t be scared, Hennessy. I’ll only bite if you ask me to.”

  He winked and the tiny scrap of white lace I wore under the dress grew wetter by the second.

  “I’m not scared,” I insisted, but the truth was my heart raced like I was being chased by Eugene’s thugs because the effect Cruz was having on me was impossible to explain. I wasn’t the type of girl to lose her shit over a guy, no matter how gorgeous, how sexy, how fucking wet he made my panties. But here I was, being that girl.

  “Good.”

  He carried me up the steps and inside the house where Martha was, once again, working furiously to make her boys happy.

  “Smells divine, Miss Martha.”

  “Thanks, Cruz. The ceremony was beautiful and I think your bride will keep you in line.” She turned to me with a gleam in her eyes and a wooden spoon in her hands. “Won’t you?”

  “I’ll do my best,” I told her, not wanting to see the light extinguish behind her eyes by telling her the truth.

  “Go on, then. Get upstairs and help your bride get changed into something she can dance in.”

  His grin widened and those blue eyes turned to me, so close that I could see three different shades swimming in the depths.

  “Yes ma’am.”

  For some reason, his grin did crazy things to my body, things I couldn’t hide with him standing so close, doing his level best to keep me turned on.

  “I’m perfectly capable of dressing and undressing myself,” I told him as he took the stairs two at a time, as if I wasn’t in his arms.

  “Of course you can, babe, but it’s my God given right as your husband to help you.”

  His lips twitched because even Cruz couldn’t keep a straight face at that blatant lie.

  “If that’s all right with you,” he added with a softer, sexier grin that only made me want to let him strip me down.

  Why was I resisting this anyway? Cruz was delicious as hell and it was clear that he wanted me as badly as I wanted him, and there was the small fact that he was now my husband.

  But did I really want our first time to be rushed with two dozen people outside, getting ready for a big-ass party? No, I didn’t. But I wasn’t prepared to shut the door on the possibility of us. Together. Naked.

  “Well, the zipper on this dress is a bit tricky.”

  “Fuck me,” he growled when we finally made it to the room Peaches and the girls had converted into a bridal suite for the day. There was white silk and lace everywhere, and a bucket of champagne chilling beside the bed.

  “Don’t tease me, Hennessy.”

  “I’m not,” I told him and let my body slide down his, feeling every hard muscle before my feet hit the ground. I took a step back, my heart thudding in my chest as I twirled to give him my back.

  “It’s hidden between the seams in the middle.” My breath hitched as his knuckles brushed against the bare skin of my back when his fingers gripped the zipper.

  “Be gentle. Please.”

  A big puff of breath whooshed from him, heating my skin even more, and then he tugged the zipper, slowly until the cool air on my back made
me shiver. “Holy fuck, Hennessy.”

  A smile touched my lips at the guttural, primal sound that dripped from his lips. I took my time, shoving the fabric over my hips and letting it fall to the ground. I turned, slowly, my gaze focused on the way his eyes moved as he took in every detail. The white lace-up corset with matching lace thong were too sexy all on their own, but Aspen had insisted the garter belts and lace-top stockings would blow his mind.

  She wasn’t wrong. The look in his eyes made me feel like an incredibly sexy woman who was desirable. Lusted after. I stood a little taller, shoving my chest out just a little bit more.

  “Thanks for your help, Cruz.”

  His eyes darkened to jet black and he licked his lips, making my nipples pebble beneath the bra.

  “Fuck!” Cruz growled again, the sound dark and foreboding as he took a step back. And then another. Then, shock of all shocks, he turned on his heels, yanked the door open and walked out.

  Happy fucking wedding day to me.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Cruz

  Even though the sun had set long ago, I could still hear the sounds of music coming from the big house. Hennessy and I left the festivities about an hour ago, but there had been no signs of the party stopping anytime soon.

  I couldn’t say I blamed them. The MC had been through some shit over the past few months, hell the past few years, and it was about time we had a reason to party. Technically, the wedding was the reason for the party, but it served as a celebration of Stone’s birth, Peaches’ safe return, the death of Farnsworth, and all the other shit that had been thrown at us lately. We had plenty of reasons to celebrate, and I knew they’d be drinking and smoking and partying until the sun came up.

  Hennessy didn’t say much on the short ride back to my cabin. Our cabin, now. The truth was she hadn’t said much to me aside from, “I’ll be in my room,” when we first got back. I couldn’t blame her though, after the way I walked out on her in the bridal suite. It was a pussy move. I knew that the moment I walked out, but dammit, the way she looked in all that white lace was more than I could handle.

  She was all creamy soft skin, freckles and curves, standing there in front of me wearing virginal white and a sultry smile on her face. Virginal and innocent really wasn’t my fucking thing, but holy fucking hell did my hands itch—even now—to touch her.

  She looked hotter than hell standing there with her tits poking out, cleavage spilling over the top and a flirty grin on her face. I wanted her, badly, and in that bridal suite I could have torn that delicate fabric from her body and fucked her until we both couldn’t move. Except I didn’t do pity fucks. I wanted Hennessy, and I wanted her to come to me because she wanted to ride my cock, not because she felt like she owed me for marrying her. Protecting her.

  I poured another shot of Remy down my throat and glared out at the starry fucking night, feeling fuzzy but nowhere close to drunk. Pissed off and horny too, but none of that mattered. Not tonight and probably not any other night either, which meant I was about to reacquaint my hand and my cock because every time I closed my eyes there she was, in white lingerie, white stockings, and hot as fuck red heels.

  The next shot of Remy went down easier, and I closed my eyes to let the room temperature amber liquid seep into my veins, warm me up, and make everything a little bit fuzzier. There she was again, taunting me. Teasing me.

  “Drinking alone?”

  Hennessy’s husky voice behind me came out of nowhere, and I cursed myself for not being more aware of my surroundings. She wasn’t my real fucking wife. She needed me to keep her safe, and I couldn’t do that if I was too busy picturing myself sliding my dick inside her.

  “Yep. Want some?”

  I held the bottle up without looking at her, because I couldn’t, and she surprised me by taking the bottle from my hand. I listened as she took two big sips and handed it back to me.

  “Thanks. I prefer it on the rocks, though.” There was humor in her voice, and I chanced a glance at her over my shoulder

  “Goddammit.”

  I really should have listened to my instinct and kept my eyes on the twinkling stars above or the expansive flat land of Hardtail Ranch bathed in moonlight. She was no longer dressed up in the virginal wedding lingerie from earlier.

  Oh fuck no.

  Instead, Hennessy had changed into red. Fiery, flaming red that made her skin look paler and her hair look like it had been kissed by fire. The white corset was gone, replaced by one of those sexy ass negligees that hugged her curves and drew my attention to the patch of red between her legs.

  “What the fuck?”

  My cock was hard instantly and all the peace of mind I’d been working to build flew out the damn window.

  She blinked innocently, like she didn’t understand. Her lush mouth was fixed in a rounded ‘O’ that had my cock straining against my zipper to slide between those lips.

  “Excuse me?”

  That was anger, which I could deal with better than the hurt or sadness I expected.

  “What are you wearing?”

  “Pajamas,” she bit out through clenched teeth. “This shouldn’t bother you at all, Cruz.”

  I turned away from her, unable to look at her another second without forgetting that I didn’t want a pity fuck. I wanted a hard, sweaty fuck that had her screaming my name and begging for more.

  “Yeah, why’s that?”

  “Because you walked away earlier. I was standing there in sexy lingerie with a wet pussy thanks to you and you just walked away.”

  The sound of her heels told me she was calling my bluff, and she did, taking the seat right beside me and crossing her legs, making it impossible to ignore her.

  “Are you a tease or something, Cruz?”

  I heard the challenge in her voice and turned to her with a raised eyebrow. “A tease?”

  She nodded. “You did your best to make me want you and then you walked away. So Cruz, I have to ask, what the fuck?”

  I hadn’t expected her to call me out like this, but I should have. I didn’t know Hennessy and treating her like she was every other woman wasn’t going to make living together any easier.

  “Did I bruise your ego, Hen?”

  She barked out a laugh and stood, leaning against the pine bannister I spent hours cutting and sanding myself, crossing her legs at the ankle so my gaze was drawn to the red fabric covering her pussy. “Did you bruise my…are you an idiot or are you just cruel? Did you get me all riled up just to prove to yourself you could?”

  I stared at her for a long time, unsure if I should feel offended that she thought so little of me or pissed off she called me an idiot.

  “Well? Answer me, dammit. I can handle rejection, Cruz, and if that’s what this is, just fucking say it.”

  Arms folded over her chest, making her cleavage look even more spectacular, she waited. Impatiently.

  “I don’t want you to fuck me because you think you have to.”

  She laughed again and this time it was soft and sexy and feminine.

  “I don’t have to fuck anyone, Cruz. Ever.”

  “Still,” I grunted and took another swig, or two, of Remy.

  “Oh, bullshit. Look at me.” She extended her arms out to either side of her body and stood straight, less than a foot from me, making sure I took in every detail of her body. I looked my fill until her words brought my attention back to her face.

  “You think I’d wear this for obligatory sex? No, I’d wear nothing at all. I’m trying to turn you the fuck on Cruz, but I guess it’s not working.”

  Just like that, all the fire, the piss and vinegar, fled. Like she was just done. Hennessy shrugged her shoulders and walked away, giving me one final dagger in the heart when I caught sight of her round, meaty ass cheeks, bare, with nothing but a red triangle for decoration.

  I was on my feet in a flash, just inside the front door of my cabin, grabbing her arm before she could get too far from me. I pulled her until her chest slammed into mine,
smiling at the feel of those diamond-hard nipples against my chest.

  “No more fucking talking, Hen.”

  Just in case she thought about using that pretty little mouth for anything but pleasure for the rest of the night, I crashed my lips down against hers, devouring the taste of Hennessy and Remy, my two favorite drinks, on my tongue.

  She didn’t put up a fight, giving in instantly. I smiled against her mouth because I enjoyed a woman that didn’t pretend she was too good for a good hard fuck, and Hen knew that’s exactly what she was about to get. She slid one hand down to squeeze my ass and the fingers of her other hand curled around the back of my neck, giving it a gentle tug. She moaned into my mouth and tried to get closer.

  That was all I needed to push her deeper into the living room, kicking the door shut behind me to close out the world, even though the party music provided a quiet, distant soundtrack. My mouth never left hers, though, taming and teasing her with my kisses until she was putty in my hands.

  “Fuck,” she said on a breathless sigh when she pulled back, looking at me like I was some magical fucking creature she didn’t recognize.

  “Right?” I answered. My mouth was on hers again even as my hands roamed her body in search of how to get the damn lingerie off those sweet curves.

  “The back,” she panted and kissed her way from my mouth down my neck before she sank her teeth in to the muscle between my neck and shoulder.

  My hands flew to the back, and I smiled when I found a dozen little hooks. I grabbed it with both hands and pulled it apart until the fabric tore and fell to the ground. Hennessy gasped, but it was a sound of desire, not shock, and that sound hit me right in the cock.

  “Better,” I growled and dropped to my knees, grabbing the tiny red band at her hips and tugged it down. Slowly, until she shivered in my hands.

  “Too. Slow.”

  I let out a low chuckle at her words, but this was my show. I was in charge of her pleasure, and that’s just how it fucking was. “I could go slower.”